Confederate Pension Applications

About this collection

Confederate Pension Applications, 1879-1960

Applications, supporting documentation, and correspondence for indigent or maimed Confederate veterans or indigent widows of Confederate soldiers. These records are from Record Group 058-01-001, Confederate Pensions and Records, Pension Office, Pension Applications.

Historical Background

The State of Georgia first began giving pensions to Confederate soldiers who had lost a limb in 1877. The law was gradually broadened to include soldiers who were disabled due to their military service and to indigent soldiers. Indigent widows of Confederate soldiers who died in service or as a result of their service began receiving pensions in 1890. Pension funds also paid medical expenses for final illnesses and funeral expenses for indigent soldiers and widows.

What information can I find?

Pension files can include:

Applications

Correspondence regarding the pensioner

Affidavits

Receipts

Transfer of assignments of pension funds

Military records

Pension applications generally give:

Length of Georgia residence

Place of residence at time of application

Military unit during the war

Date of enlistment and discharge

Any disabling wounds received

Veteran’s health at the time of application

Value of personal property.

Widows’ pension applications include:

Name of the husband

Name of the husband’s military unit

Date of their marriage

The widow’s means of support

Some widows’ applications include a copy of the couple’s marriage certificate.

Note about the digital collection and indexing

The paper records consist of a main series plus two supplements. This online collection currently consists of Pension Supplements 1 and 2. Both supplements were scanned before the main series.

Documents are indexed under the name of the person receiving the pension. The fullest form of the name found in all the documents for the pensioner is used to index all the documents under that pensioner’s name.

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